JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 10/02/07

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 004601 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR E, P, EB, EAP/J, EAP/P, EAP/PD, PA; WHITE HOUSE/NSC/NEC; JUSTICE FOR STU CHEMTOB IN ANTI-TRUST DIVISION; TREASURY/OASIA/IMI/JAPAN; DEPT PASS USTR/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; SECDEF FOR JCS-J-5/JAPAN, DASD/ISA/EAPR/JAPAN; DEPT PASS ELECTRONICALLY TO USDA FAS/ITP FOR SCHROETER; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR; CINCPAC FLT/PA/ COMNAVFORJAPAN/PA. E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 10/02/07 Index: 1) Prime Minister's daily schedule Reaction to Prime Minister Fukuda's Diet policy speech: 2) Prime Minister Fukuda's Diet policy speech lacked luster, flare and read like a business report 3) Opposition camp pans Fukuda's speech as "penned by bureaucrats," "off the mark" Anti-terrorism legislation: 4) Outline of new anti-terror bill revealed: Limited to MSDF providing fuel and water; no Diet permission required 5) LDP, Komeito Diet steering committee plan to vet new anti-terror bill with opposition camp before presenting it to the Diet 6) DPJ demands 17 items related for MSDF fueling services under the anti-terror law 7) Defense Minister asks US for factual information about use of MSDF fuel in Indian Ocean 8) Ruling camp to emphasize dialogue with opposition on new anti-terror bill Burma issue: 9) Vice Foreign Minister Yabunaka strongly protests to Burmese government the shooting of Japanese cameraman Nagai by soldier 10) Japan demands Burma return Nagai's missing camera with video tape, seen in his hand when he died 11) Japan to cut aid to Burma and not carry out any new humanitarian assistance Diet agenda: 12) Extraordinary Diet session to be extended to mid-December but no later 13) New Komeito objects to LDP's bill reforming political-contribution system 14) After huge Okinawan protest, government may restore textbook descriptions about "military involvement" in mass suicides during Battle of Okinawa Articles: 1) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) Prime Minister's schedule, October 1 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) October 2, 2007 08:00 Attended an inauguration ceremony for the new Japan Post group at its headquarters in Kasumigaseki. 08:35 Arrived at the Kantei. 09:35 Attended an extraordinary cabinet meeting. 11:16 Met State Minister for Economic and Fiscal Policy Ota, with Cabinet Office's policy planning directors general Fujioka, Matsumoto and TOKYO 00004601 002 OF 009 Saito. 13:02 Attended a Lower House plenary session. Later attended an Upper House plenary session. Met Lower House Takeo Kawamura. 14:26 Met State Minister for Administrative Reform Watanabe. 15:25 Met Finance Minister Nukaga, Vice Finance Minister Tsuda, and others. Followed by Nippon Keidanren Chairman Mitarai. 17:00 Attended an executive meeting in the Diet building. 18:06 Met Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Director General Sasae at the Kantei. 19:15 Returned to his private residence in Nozawa. 2) Prime Minister Fukuda makes policy speech including practical proposals without fancy pledges MAINICHI (Page 1) (Full) October 2, 2007 Prime Minister Fukuda yesterday made his first policy speech, which was unique in terms of consideration being given to the opposition, following the trading of places between the ruling and opposition camps in the Upper House. His style of speech is also different from his predecessors. If former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's speech could be called a top-down style and that of former Prime Minister SHINZO ABE an ideal type, Fukuda's speech can be called a practical type without fancy slogans or episodes. His solid stance sounds rather fresh. However, some said they felt insecure about whether he can tide over the Diet, where the opposition controls the Upper House. Koizumi in his policy speech delivered in May 2001 stressed his readiness to take the initiative in challenging vested interests, saying, "without fear, without flinching and without being obsessed." His speech incorporated the "spirit of 100 sacks of rice" based on a historical event, meaning that it is important to endure present hardships for the better future, in order to explain the importance of nurturing human resources. Former Prime Minister ABE delivered two policy speeches while in office. His speeches were full of ideological imprints, including constitutional revision and education revitalization, with such slogans as a "beautiful country" and "departure from the postwar regime." In contrast, Fukuda advocated "independence and coexistence," which is also the basic ideal advocated by the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto). The partisanship of politics was so weak in his speech that DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama even said, "I felt embarrassed." The prime minister simply enumerated policy proposals without making a display of his originality. He said, "Protecting people's lives and defending the state's interests are the job of TOKYO 00004601 003 OF 009 politics." His speech evidenced the distress he feels that underscoring the importance of policy rising above the partisanship of politics would be the only way to obtain cooperation from the opposition. 3) Opposition camp pans Fukuda's policy speech as "prepared by bureaucrats," while ruling parties say "it is to the point" TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Excerpts) October 2 2007 Opposition parties lambasted the prime minister's policy speech yesterday. Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama said: "It seems that he read a composition prepared by bureaucrats. It lacked luster and any resolve. I could not understand what he wanted to say. I had a strong impression that a bureaucrat-controlled cabinet has been revived." Opposition parties are ready to harshly attack the prime minister's stance and policies on such occasions as the representative interpellations session to start tomorrow and meetings at both houses' budget committees. In reference to Fukuda's buzzwords "independence and coexistence," Hatoyama expressed displeasure, saying: "He apparently adopted our party's slogan." Hatoyama also dismissed the prime minister's call for consultations between the ruling and opposition blocs, remarking: "We should thoroughly discuss issues at a party head debate and committee meetings in the Diet." Focusing on the advocacy of building a "country that gives hope and security", Japanese Communist Party Chairman Kazuo Shii made this critical comment: "He presented no prescription on how to create such a country." Social Democratic Party President Mizuho Fukushima commented: "It was like a composition penned by a faultless honor student, lacking passion and specific measures." People's New Party President Tamisuke Watanuki said: "Politicians are not thinkers. Of importance is what they do." New Party Nippon President Yasuo Tanaka released a statement reading: "The speech just enumerated abstract words." 4) New legislation outlined; MSDF services to be limited to oil, water supply, Diet approval unnecessary ASAHI (Page 4) (Abridged slightly) October 2, 2007 New legislation the government is going to submit to the current Diet session enabling the Maritime Self-Defense Force to continue its refueling operations in the Indian Ocean beyond the Nov. 1 expiry of the current Antiterrorism Special Measures Law, was outlined yesterday. The new law will limit the MSDF's activities to oil and water supply and eliminate the retroactive Diet approval system, now stipulated in the Antiterrorism Law. The government and ruling bloc plan to let relevant cabinet ministers and the ruling party project team begin coordination on Oct. 2, determine an outline of the new legislation later this week, and call on the major opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto or DPJ) to hold talks for adopting the new legislation. As MSDF activities, the Special Measures Law now in force stipulates: (1) cooperative assistance, including oil and water TOKYO 00004601 004 OF 009 supply, (2) search and rescue operations, and (3) rescuing affected people. The envisaged legislation will limit their activities to providing fuel and water. Further, the government's stand is that given the concretely specified activities, additional Diet approval is unnecessary, saying that the enactment of the law corresponds to Diet approval. In the past, a Diet report has always followed any changes to the basic plan. The new legislation is designed to obligate the government to report to the Diet regularly. The government also plans to add UN Security Council Resolution 1776 expressing appreciation for the Maritime Interdiction Operations, including the MSDF, to Article 1 stipulating the purposes of the new law. Coordination is underway for limiting the MSDF operations to two years. But the situation is still fluid, as the New Komeito is calling for one year. The government and ruling camp plan to introduce a bill to the Diet in mid-October. The focus will be on an extension of the current Diet session slated to adjourn on Nov. 10. In a speech in Tokyo on Sept. 28, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda indicated that the extension would be inevitable, saying, "If the current session is to end on Nov. 10, that would leave us only three weeks (for deliberations)." But given the DPJ's adamant opposition to the MSDF operations, the view is prevalent in the government and ruling camp that even if the session was extended, enacting the new legislation during the extraordinary session would be difficult. Some are calling for carrying the matter over to the next year's regular Diet session for legislation. But the DPJ's stiff resistance might prevent any budget-related bills from clearing the Diet in late March after the enactment of the state budget bill, paving the way for Lower House dissolution for a snap general election. Such a development might force the MSDF to suspend its refueling operations for a long time. Differences between new legislation and the Antiterrorism Law now in force New legislation Antiterrorism Law Activities Limited to oil and water supply. Cooperative assistance, including oil and water supply, search and rescue operations, and rescuing affected people. Diet approval Not required. Given limited activities, enactment of the new legislation will be regarded as Diet approval. Diet approval is necessary within 20 days of the start of activities. UN resolutions stipulated in Article 1 (purposes) Add UN Resolution ¶1776. UN resolutions, including 1368. Term One or two years. One year. 5) LDP, New Komeito decide to present outline of new antiterrorism legislation to opposition bloc ahead of Budget Committee session MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) October 2, 2007 The Diet Affairs Committee chairmen of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito decided yesterday to present the opposition camp with an outline of the envisaged new antiterrorism legislation on the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling operations before the Lower House Budge Committee session begins possibly on Oct. 9. Their aim is to facilitate talks between the ruling and opposition camps TOKYO 00004601 005 OF 009 at the Budget Committee by presenting the outline before the session starts. The government plans to hold a meeting of relevant cabinet ministers today to finalize the outline to present it to the ruling party project team later today. Although the government and ruling bloc want to obtain the opposition camp's support through talks, the opposition parties not give the slightest indication of responding to the call. Given the situation, the ruling bloc plans to introduce a bill to the Diet after Budget Committee deliberations, with ruling bloc project team chair Taku Yamasaki saying: "We would like to conduct de facto ruling-opposition talks at the Budget Committee and determine the bill's content based on them." 6) DPJ presents Machimura with 17-item request for more information on MSDF refueling operations MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) October 2, 2007 Democratic Party of Japan Policy Research Committee Chair Masayuki Naoshima, meeting with Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura in the Diet building yesterday, presented him with a written request asking for information disclosure regarding the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling operations in the Indian Ocean. The request is composed of 17 items, including the numbers of refueling services by area, the names of foreign vessels that received fuel from the MSDF, shipping schedules, and the international legal basis for the Maritime Interdiction Operation, in which the MSDF is taking part. In the meeting, DPJ shadow foreign minister Yoshio Hachiro referred to the option of exercising investigative powers in national politics by pointing out the alleged use of Japanese fuel in the Iraq war. Machimura simply said: "Some matters are connected with military secrets, so we cannot disclose everything." 7) Joint staff council chairman asks US military to investigate allegation of diversion of MSDF fuel SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) October 2, 2007 The Defense Ministry's Joint Staff Council Chairman Takashi Saito met yesterday with US Naval Forces Japan Commander James Kelly. Saito requested Kelly for an investigation on allegation raised by the opposition camp that fuel provided to US forces by a Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) ship in the Indian Ocean was diverted for the Iraq war and let him know the result of the investigation before Oct. 9 when the House of Representatives' Budget Committee starts discussions. 8) Ruling parties willing to pass new antiterrorism bill through dialogue with opposition bloc YOMIURI (Page 3) (Excerpts) October 2, 2007 In his policy speech yesterday, Prime Minister stressed his intention to work in cooperation with the Democratic Party of Japan TOKYO 00004601 006 OF 009 (DPJ) in proceeding with national politics. In accordance with this stance, the government and the ruling camp will try to figure out ways to hold talks with opposition at every opportunity, for instance, by presenting to the DPJ in advance its new draft bill to extend the ongoing Maritime Self-Defense's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. After the prime minister's policy speech, Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Ibuki told reporters: "Since the opposition bloc SIPDIS has control in the House of Councillors, nothing will be done without discussion between the ruling and opposition parties. It is quite natural for the party in power to call for dialogue." New Komeito President Ota also said: "When (the government) drafts bills, it is essential for it to try to listen to views from opposition parties. As long as they give priority to people's lives, both the ruling and opposition camps should exercise self-restraint so that both will not conflict with each other (over bills)." The government and the ruling bloc intend to extend the current extraordinary Diet session, which is due to end Nov. 10, in an effort to enact the government's new legislation to continue the MSDF refueling operation. In this connection, Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura, Ibuki, and Diet Affairs Committee Chairman SIPDIS Oshima met in Tokyo yesterday and agreed on a plan to finalize the compilation of the FY2008 budget by the end of the year. Observers see behind the agreement a desire to enact a new law by mid-December before putting their energies into compiling the budget at year's end. Machimura, Foreign Minister Komura, and Defense Minister Ishiba also plan to meet today to put the finishing touches on the outline for a bill. Further, the ruling camp is willing to search for a clue for the ruling and opposition parties to sit at the same table at other arenas than Diet deliberations to discuss such bills as those amending the law to help the disabled become independent and the Political Funds Control Law. The DPJ, however, has decided not to respond to their call for prior consultations, based on the stance that it would discuss matters with the ruling parties only during Diet deliberations. 9) Deputy Foreign Minister Yabunaka files strong protest with leaders of Burmese junta regarding shooting of Japanese reporter SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) October 2, 2007 Kinya Fujimoto, Bangkok Deputy Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka, who is in Burma (Myanmar) to deal with the death of Japanese photojournalist, Kenji Nagai, who was shot to death while covering antigovernment demonstrations in Burma, yesterday moved from Rangoon (Yangon) to the capital of Naypyidaw, and there he met with senior officials of the Burmese Foreign Ministry. Details of their talks are unknown, but Yabunaka reportedly lodged a strong protest with the junta regarding the death of the Japanese reporter and demanded an investigation into the incident and punishment of the officials concerned. Meanwhile, no meeting occurred yesterday between Special Advisor to the United Nations Secretary General Ibrahim Gambari, who continues TOKYO 00004601 007 OF 009 mediation, and the top leader of the Burmese military junta, Than Shwe, chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). Their meeting is expected to take place today. According to a report from Rangoon, the military authorities yesterday lifted the closure of two pagodas in the city. Civilian life is returning to where it was before demonstrations as some schools and stores, which had closed since Sept. 26, when security forces began an armed crackdown, have been reopened and bus service has been partially restored. Monks of some monasteries are allowed to go about asking for alms. However, armed security forces are deployed at key points, and the city is under watch by helicopters. Antigovernment protesters were contained yesterday, as well. The Internet remains unavailable. Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported that more than 1,000 monks and 300-400 civilians, including students, have been detained over the past week. Meanwhile, Special Advisor Gambari, after meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the democratic movement in Burma, in Rangoon on Sept. 30, returned to Naypyidaw and has been continuing efforts to somehow arrange a meeting with Than Shwe. According to Reuters, the Chinese Embassy in Burma is undertaking mediation for setting that meeting. A diplomatic source analyzed the reason Than Shwe is not positive about holding such a meeting this way: "He may want to express the military junta's discontent against the international community condemning the crackdown. A health problem also cannot be ruled out." 10) Government demands return of videotape in meeting with high-level officials of Burmese military junta over death of Nagai ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) October 2, 2007 Daisuke Yamamoto, Kazuto Tsukamoto, Bangkok In order to deal with the shooting death of photojournalist Kenji Nagai (50) while covering demonstrators against the military junta of Burma (Myanmar),Deputy Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka yesterday evening met with several high-level officials of the junta, including the deputy foreign minister. The Japanese government believes that Nagai might have videotaped the shooter. In line with this assumption, Yabunaka reportedly strongly demanded that the Burmese authorities return Nagai's videotape. Yabunaka had talks with one of the two deputy foreign ministers. Reportedly, he conveyed his regret to the deputy foreign minister over the incident and sought to investigate it. A Foreign Ministry official said that a major aim of Yabunaka's visit to Burma is "to get a briefing directly from the Burmese side about whether Nagai was shot at point-blank range." "If (Nagai) was shot at point-blank range, then the Japanese government must consider a severe response to Burma," this official added. On Sept. 30, local police returned one Canon video camera and two videotapes to Toru Yamaji, representative of APF News, with which Nagai had contracted, but the videotapes did not contain any footage TOKYO 00004601 008 OF 009 of demonstrations. The Japanese government has judged from Nagai's belongings and an analysis of footages before and after the incident that the video camera Nagai used at the time of the occurrence of the incident was a Sony. The government thinks the Sony video camera is sure to serve as good evidence to prove that Nagai was deliberately shot at point-blank range. Yabunaka is asking for a meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the democratic movement. If this request is accepted, Yabunaka will meet with Suu Kyi in Rangoon today. 11) Government to cut aid to Myanmar: There will be no new humanitarian assistance YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) October 2, 2007 Following the crackdown on anti-government demonstrators by the military junta in Burma, the government yesterday decided to cut assistance to that nation, including grant aid and technical cooperation. It will reconsider ongoing aid programs and decide what should be ended or suspended temporarily. There will be no more humanitarian aid extended. It has judged that it would be necessary to take a harsh stance toward Burma in view of the rising criticism of the military junta and the fatal shooting of video journalist Kenji Nagai. The government has already extensively cut aid to that nation in the wake of the inauguration of the military junta in 1988 and the detention of democratization movement leader Aung San Suu Kyi. It extended approximately 1.3 billion yen in grant aid and approximately 1.7 billion yen in technical cooperation in fiscal ¶2006. No yen loans have been provided since fiscal 1987. The government is now looking into the possibility of ending or temporarily suspending long-term aid programs, including the human resources nurturing and tuition reimbursement program (approximately 400 million yen was extended in fiscal 2007 under this program). It will keep humanitarian aid, which is directly linked to people's lives, intact, but there will be no new assistance. 12) Government, ruling camp plan to extend current Diet session until mid-December SANKEI (Page 5) (Excerpts) October 2, 2007 The government and ruling parties decided yesterday to extend the current extraordinary session of the Diet, which runs until Nov. 10, up to the middle of December in a bid to prioritize the compilation of a budget for next fiscal year. There was a rumor that the session would be extended until next year because the government and ruling coalition, in order to continue the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, aim to enact new legislation replacing the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law, which expires on Nov. 1. Therefore, the rumor appears to have been squelched. 13) New Komeito frowns on LDP's political funds reform; Discord in ruling coalition may be accelerated SANKEI (Page 5) (Excerpts) October 2, 2007 TOKYO 00004601 009 OF 009 The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner New Komeito yesterday held the first meeting of their project team to contribute to bringing transparency to the ruling coalition's political funds. In the meeting held in the Diet building, the project team discussed how political funds should be open to the public. The LDP presented its own idea in which the party proposed requiring politicians to attach to their fund reports for every item costing one yen or more and being screened by a third organ, but the party suggested disclosing to the public receipts for expenditures of 50,000 yen or more same as at present. The New Komeito, which has called for opening all receipts to the public, refrained from giving its answer. The two ruling parties plan to continue discussion on the matter from now on as well. However since the New Komeito is growing dissatisfied with the LDP's reluctant stance toward disclosing all receipts, this issue may accelerate discord in the ruling coalition. 14) Education Ministry begins discussing the possibility of restoring descriptions concerning "military's involvement in massive suicide" in Battle of Okinawa ASAHI (Top play) (Excerpts) October 2, 2007 As a result of the Education Ministry's latest textbook screening, phrases indicating that the former Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) had forced Okinawan residents to "commit suicide together" were deleted, but the ministry has now begun discussion of whether it is possible to make modifications to the current descriptions. Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura yesterday instructed Education Minister Tokai to SIPDIS deal with the matter in response to the recent Okinawa rally held on Sept. 29 calling for rescinding the screening results with 110,000 people joining it. Tokai instructed his ministry's staff to discuss what action would be possible to take within the framework of the textbook screening. With several textbook publishers already preparing to apply for corrections about this case, there is a possibility that descriptions specifying that the IJA was involved in civilian massive suicide may be restored. At a press briefing yesterday, Machimura said: "In order to respond in some way or other to the Okinawan people's sentiments, the officials concerned can think hard, make efforts, and use their wisdom to deal with the question of whether it is possible to add modifications." Tokai also told reporters: "Political interference (in the textbook screening) is not acceptable. But we need to consider the Okinawan people's sentiments. Both matters are very important. I want to think what we can do, considering both factors." DONOVAN